The cross

John 19:16-18 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them

Oh the cross. The symbol we uphold as a wonderful sign of God’s love for us was viewed as a symbol of torture for the people of Jesus’ day. What we wear around our necks as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice was used by the Romans as a reminder of who was in control. Or so they thought they were in control.

The beauty of the cross is that it was not forced upon Jesus. He knew full well when He stepped out of eternity into time and space that He would face the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, the denial of Peter, the abandonment by the rest of the twelve, the scourge of the whip, and the torture of the cross. He knew it, and He chose to come anyway. His love for mankind compelled Him to do so. God’s plan of redemption from the beginning was completed in Jesus’ act of willingness to go to the cross.

He endured every moment of pain for you and for me, that we might be reconciled to God. There’s no greater gift ever given in all the world that God becoming a man to die for our sins. We so often look to Jesus for what He can do for us – and not what He DID for us. We look to Him for what He can give us – and not what He GAVE us. He gave us himself, and there is nothing that compares.

We don’t need treasures. Jesus is our treasure. We don’t need pleasures. We can delight in Christ. We don’t need respect and position, the humble, suffering servant bought and paid for our standing with God. He is our gift. If we accept the offer.

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Matt Cochran

Matt Cochran's passion is seeing people's lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Having served in the Marine Corps in locations all over the world, Matt easily connects with people. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Studies and a Master's Degree in Discipleship Ministries. Above all else, Matt loves being a dad to Colin, Hank and Amelie. Read Full